Great news for The Mead

COMMUNITY CORNER AT GREENWAY

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Do you remember the last printed edi�on of The Mead before the pandemic? Pictured on the right, it was packed with all things Southmead and was, as ever, well received by our offline residents. We know The Mead has par�cular fans at The Woodnook (hello Woodnook!) and we’re always to keen to find areas in the community where residents would like to receive community news and no�ces on paper (do let us know).

The pandemic put printed edi�ons on hold for two years, but even before the pandemic The Mead was beginning to struggle with just one Volunteer doing all the tasks necessary to keep it going. During lock-down, like many of us, our Volunteer had some health and family set-backs and so couldn’t bring back the printed edi�ons without more support, and income to meet rising prin�ng costs.

Residents have made it very clear that The Mead is needed and have been constantly asking when it’s coming back. The Southmead Development Trust have listened to this and we are delighted that the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to sponsor and support The Mead for the next two years. This is fantas�c news and means a small team of staff at the

Issue 67 Feb - March 2020 FREE DONATIONS WELCOME Southmead News & What’s On

TALKING ‘BOUT

OUR GENERATION!

From: The 1970s Southmead Facebook Group

In early December 2019, former Southmead lad Bradley Lane was looking through some old snaps and came across one from around 1978, taken at Portsmouth Docks. It was a Fonthill School Camp Group photo taken outside of the HMS Victory. Bradley says, “I got to thinking how much I had enjoyed the first ten years of my life when I was living in Southmead and started reliving some of my memories. That’s when I decided to start the 1970s Southmead Group on Facebook and see what other people remembered about the area at that Ì me. I could not believe how fast it took off and how many great stories and pictures were posted. We currently have 3074 members! The Group has been really successful in reconnecÌ ng people who have lost touch over the years and I have had many people thanking me for helping them to revive old friendships”.

Early on, Bradley picked up that the members would like to do something to help the community and that’s when the idea of a fundraiser for the Youth Club and The Ranch came into existence. The members have been very generous to date, donaÌ ng £850 and that figure is sÌ ll growing.

The next thing that became apparent was that having some sort of 1970s get-together would prove to be conAnued on page 3 . . .

Trust can facilitate the edi�ons, INSIDE With the Trust’s backing The build back the volunteers team, and P.2 Half-term Play TrailMead can only become more work closely with residents who P.3 Thanks to 1970s P.5 The Soap is back!secure and, in turn, a much want to write and add their own P.6 Things to do?improved publica�on. items and ar�cles. P.7 Meeting reminders A huge thank you to the Trust

The Mead is s�ll open to P.8 Weekly What’s On for agreeing to back The Mead and everyone to submit their items and P.10 Church up-date P.11 New Places for priori�sing community they can s�ll be self-published on P.12 Regeneration Talkcommunica�ons. The Mead website - P.13 Inclusion Update If you would like support or www.themead.org - or emailed P.14 Marion’s Memories advice about wri�ng or submi�ng directly to our new email address: your item, no�ce, events, pictures, themead@southmead.org. poetry, or anything else, please see details for help below.

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I'm here to support people of all ages to make things happen in communi�es in North Bristol, with a par�cular focus to help people over 50. I'd love to get to know you.

I’m very excited about the return of the printed edi�on of The Mead and am keen to help you to submit your items for inclusion, whether they are stories, no�ces, poems or pictures. I would be happy to meet you in Community Corner at the Greenway Centre. Lots happens for free in Community Corner such as kni�ng, cra�s, playing board games, and simply mee�ng up for a cuppa and chat (see What’s On pages 12-13).

We also have a new book-swap trolley where you can pick up a book you’d like to read and give one in return.

I’m keen to support residents to set up and run new groups here, as well as at venues in all communi�es across North Bristol.

To reach me call: 07498 755 863 email: lucillesmith@southmead.org